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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  6. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  9. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  15. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  16. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  17. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  24. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. staff — employees
  4. bank — of a river
  5. dip — a sauce
  6. field — for sport
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. field — a subject
  9. bank — for money
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. staff — a stick
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. object — a thing
  15. staff — employees
  16. field — farmland
  17. dip — to dunk
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. lie — to recline
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. bank — for money
  23. object — an aim
  24. object — to protest

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com